John reclined in his chair, staring at the ceiling of his office. After bringing Waverly to her grandparents' cottage, he returned home and immediately went to bed even though he wasn't the least bit tired. He spent most of the night replaying the evening's events, his vampiric mind drawing out every detail: from the press of Waverly's body against his to the way her perfume made his head spin. It was agony to leave her, but he didn't want to move too fast—even though certain parts of him wanted it that way. With the exception of the old man's interruption, it was a perfect date.

He remembered exactly who that old man was, of course. It was a blessing that Waverly, for all her astuteness, didn't pick up on it. That sort of interaction was exactly the sort Knowing were supposed to avoid; why most of them moved around within their territory or purchased vast estates with hundreds of acres to hide in. Maybe he'd petition the Masters to move one day, but for now, John was content. He was a British prince, after all. It felt absurd to leave England.

The door creaked open and Kyung-Jin stuck her head around the corner.

"Come in," John said, motioning to the housekeeper. He pulled his feet down off the desktop and sat upright. Kyung-Jin entered, Dean trailing in her wake. The housekeeper set a covered mug of blood down in front of John, then took one chair in front of John's desk; Dean gingerly sat in the other.

John rocked back and forth, looking from one to the other. "What's on the agenda for today?"

Kyung-Jin consulted her tablet, even though she didn't really need to. Kyung-Jin always came prepared. "Renovations on the kitchen are complete and, as you know, plumbing work for your bathroom started today."

"Mm-hm," John murmured, nodding absently. He'd been unceremoniously kicked out of his room at seven o'clock this morning.

"The general contractor told me that you might have to use one of the downstairs bathrooms for a few days while they install the shower, vanity, and toilet."

John nodded again and took a sip from the mug. Despite his background, he was a simple man when it came to how bathrooms looked. Really, all he needed was a shower and vanity, but contractors tended to question why there was no toilet. So, even though he had no biological need to use one, John purchased it anyway.

"Construction on the cottages starts tomorrow."

"You must be happy about that, Kyung-Jin," John told the housekeeper with a smile.

Kyung-Jin didn't blink. "I'll be happy once I don't have to navigate a maze of boxes every time I want to use the bathroom," she replied, deadpan.

"I hope everyone knows that I appreciate their patience while everything is being renovated," John said, shooting Dean a quick glance. The young man didn't even notice, as he was furiously taking notes.

John's plan for the estate involved the construction of several guest cottages, especially since it was coming time for him to host a Gathering. While Valmar was big, it didn't have the rooms necessary to house more than twenty English Knowing. (Scotland, Wales, and Ireland held their own separate Gatherings.) Once the cottages were complete, all the staff would temporarily live there while their rooms were turned into suites. The general contractor estimated that it would take at least two years to completely renovate Bellbroke.

"They do, sir," Kyung-Jin told him.

"The garden is coming along nicely," Dean volunteered.

John's and Kyung-Jin's eyes locked briefly before John said, "Is it now?"

Dean nodded. "I went down there this morning. Ms Harris really knows what she's doing."

"I'm glad to hear it," John told the young man, declining to comment further. Although he wouldn't lie to his staff if they questioned him about his relationship with Waverly, he wasn't going to broadcast it either. "Is there anything else?" he asked Kyung-Jin.

"Yes. There's the matter of raising Jillian to servant status."

Dean's head came up. "W-what—?" he spluttered.

Kyung-Jin lifted a hand, staving off further comments. Dean slumped in his chair, grip tightening on his pen.

"Do you think that she is ready?" John asked.

Becoming a servant required a lot of sacrifice and commitment from an individual. Like Knowing, they had to watch people around them grow old and die while they remained unchanged. However, unlike Knowing, the process could be reversed if desired, although with consequences. Once made a servant, a person couldn't just go out into the world; they were bound to serve the Knowing, usually the vampire who created them. However, they could and often did move between households.

"She knows what is expected of her," Kyung-Jin replied.

"Very well. Let's see what she has to say."

Kyung-Jin nodded and pulled out her phone, sending a quick text.

Dean shifted in his chair. "Uhm, may I ask when I'll be turned into a servant?"

John looked up from his mug of blood. His eyes cut to Kyung-Jin, who was quick to issue a reproach. "As I've told you before, it is improper to ask that question, Dean."

"But—how is that fair? I've been here just as long as she has."

Kyung-Jin frowned. "Wrong. Jillian has been here five years, whereas you have been here less than three."

"So? I mean, she just works in the kitchen. I'm training to be a butler." Dean turned to John, hoping to find a sympathetic ear no doubt. Well, John mused, he wasn't going to find one.

"Training," John said, gesturing with his mug. "That was the whole point of having you here. This is not a permanent position, Dean, as you were made aware of when you were hired. The intention was to get you ready as a replacement for an established Knowing's butler or to head a new household. The decision to make you a servant lies within your future employer, not me."

Dean stood up, pen and pad falling from his lap to the floor. "That's ridiculous," he argued. "I should be a servant before being assigned, not after."

"I think that's enough," John said, setting his mug down. "I need you to leave this room right now, Dean. Kyung-Jin and I need to discuss how to proceed with you."

The young man froze, blood draining from his face. "Wait—does that mean you're going to have my memories erased?" His hands clenched, knuckles stark white beneath the skin.

Well, John mused, he should have considered that possibility before acting out.

"His Royal Highness didn't say that," Kyung-Jin told Dean evenly, frowning. "But your actions today will certainly be called into consideration. Now, go."

Dean stood there, eyes darting between the two. John almost felt sorry for the young man, the way his lower lip trembled. Kyung-Jin tilted her head. "Do I have to tell you again?"

With an almost childlike huff, Dean spun around and left the room, leaving the door ajar. Kyung-Jin quietly got up and shut it before returning to her chair. "Well," she sighed, slowly shaking her head. "I thought everything was on track after our last talk, but now I'm not sure."

"Shall I put in a call?" John asked her.

"Give me a few days," she replied, rubbing her temple. "I know that it's unlike me to give someone so many chances, but Dean has been good up until now. If I can't drill some sense into him, you can call the Sentinel's office."

John nodded. He'd been present when Axel ordered the wiping of a human's mind and it wasn't pleasant. Still, it was something a Knowing had to be prepared to carry out. Their survival depended on it.

There was a knock at the door. John could sense Jillian on the other side and called for her to come in. The young woman entered cautiously.

"Is Dean okay?" she asked, entering and shutting the door behind her. "I saw him stomping around just now."

Kyung-Jin blinked, her face a blank mask. "I'll check on him later."

Jillian nodded cautiously. John gestured toward the empty chair. "Why don't you have a seat, Jillian?"

Suspicion wavered in the assistant cook's big blue eyes. "I'm not getting sacked, am I?" she asked nervously.

John's eyebrows lifted. "Of course not. Did you think that's why I called you up here?"

Jillian paled. "I don't know why I said that, I'm sorry." Two spots of color bloomed on her cheeks.

John chuckled softly, reassuringly. "No, I understand where you're coming from. Actually, what I have to ask you is quite the opposite of sacking."

The young woman stared. "Oh ... kay?"

John looked to Kyung-Jin to continue. The housekeeper folded her hands neatly atop her knees. "Lynn came to me recently with a recommendation of full servant."

The assistant cook's already-wide eyes rounded even more. "What?" she exclaimed, both hands covering her mouth. "You—you mean it?"

Kyung-Jin nodded. "We do. I've gone over your performance record these last five years and, as His Royal Highness has expressed interest in expanding his household, we believe that you fit into those plans."

"Oh—oh!" Jillian exclaimed, her small feet pounding the floor in excitement. It was so infectious, John couldn't help but grin. "Yes. Yes, please! You all were so kind to take me in after I aged out of the foster system ..." She turned to John. "Oh, I promise, Your Royal Highness, I won't let you down."

"I have no doubts about that, Jillian," he told her sincerely. "Now, as you know, the process will be uncomfortable. There's nothing I can do about that, unfortunately."

"I can take it, sir. I can."

John nodded. "Very well. Kyung-Jin and I shall see you later this evening, after your shift."

Jillian jumped up and grabbed John's hands. "Thank you, sir, thank you so very much!"

John stood up, gently pulling himself free. He reached over the desk and patted Jillian on her shoulder. "You're very welcome. I'll see you later."

Giggling and spinning, the young woman danced out of John's office, still thanking him profusely. John watched her go, then sat back down and drained the blood from his mug. He looked over at Kyung-Jin. "At least that went well," he told the housekeeper.

Kyung-Jin merely made notes on her tablet.